The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has maintained that Raila Odinga has not left as its leader.
In a statement published on Thursday, September 5, 2024, ODM’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna stated that an article published by a local daily was false and misleading.
Additionally, Sifuna stated categorically that neither Raila nor ODM have announced the former Prime Minister’s exit and retirement from party leadership.
“We wish to register our strong disagreement with and disapproval of a weird story published by Daily Nation today that attempts to write a political obituary of Party Leader Raila Odinga while at the same time inciting non-existent rivalries for Odinga’s position,” Sifuna said.
“Several times, Raila Odinga has informed the country that he will be presenting himself for election to the position of chairman of the African Union Commission during elections to be held in February 2025. As matters stand now, neither Odinga nor ODM have announced his exit and retirement from party leadership.”
The SG further stated that the article intended to create despondency among party supporters while fanning pandemonium in ODM.
“We therefore see no reason whatsoever for the Daily Nation to come up with a screaming headline announcing Odinga’s retirement, complete with an incoherent purported analysis of his life and times as leader of ODM. Nation‘s story is in absolute bad faith and intended to create despondency among party supporters while fanning pandemonium in ODM,” Sifuna added.
Party Statement on the headline in today’s edition of the Daily Nation. pic.twitter.com/d3zhNCaxrv
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) September 5, 2024
Raila on Kenyan politics
On August 21, the ODM party leader said that he would not be an active player in the Kenyan political scene as he focused on his campaign for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.
Kenya nominated the former Prime Minister for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairman position, whose election is scheduled for February next year. It is for this reason that Raila has said he will shift focus to the race for the continental position.
“You know that I’m going to begin to work for the continent once I’m elected in February 2025. At the moment, I’m involved in the campaigns, but that does not mean that Kenya ceases to exist. I’m not going to be active in Kenyan politics henceforth as I focus my attention on the continental campaign,” Raila told the press after meeting with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
